Job overview

We have an amazing opportunity for you to join us as  an Advanced Specialist Physiotherapist - Spinal Assessment, here at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn.

If you have an urge to develop more than just your physiotherapy skills and in a complex spinal surgical area with ongoing development and involvement in regional networks then talk to us. 

Working closely with our Spinal Orthopaedic Consultants and wider MDT members, we can offer clinical support to further develop your knowledge and career in this complex area. 

You will use clinical-reasoning skills to undertake an assessment of the presenting problem, interpret findings, develop working and differential diagnoses, and formulate, communicate and implement management plans that take account of individuals' needs, goals and wishes, local service availability and relevant local and national guidelines and policies.

This role will also incorporate supervision (as required) and teaching of other staff members as appropriate.

We are open to applications from both aspirational and established clinicians who are team players and passionate about delivering high quality, patient centred services. 

Main duties of the job

As the successful post holder, you would be responsible for the ongoing delivery of our complex spinal triage service working closely with several different areas within the wider MDT whilst working in an extended role beyond the usual physiotherapy scope of practice. 

You will be an autonomous extended scope practitioner to be responsible for the examination, assessment and further management of patients. Complex patient management includes referring patient for further tests/investigations (e.g. blood, x-rays, scans, etc), to other healthcare professionals, and injection listing.

You will independently triage referrals, many of which have complex/chronic presentations and determine a clinical diagnosis and working with the medical spinal assessment staff co-ordinate the appropriate path of intervention required including requesting further investigations (bloods/x-rays and MRI scans).

Within your role you will train, educate and support patients, physiotherapists, master’s level students and other healthcare professionals, as well as being actively involved in the development and promotion of the Spinal Assessment Service in conjunction with the orthopaedic consultants.

It is desirable that you will have worked in a spinal service and studied at a master's level. It is essential that you have advanced-level clinical reasoning skills and vast post-graduate experience in MSK.

Working for our organisation

There’s never been a more exciting time to join TeamQEH.  We’re working on a once in a generation opportunity to build a new state-of-the-art hospital to open in 2030 and we are also carrying out on one of the biggest pieces of digital transformation work we’ve ever undertaken.

Our new electronic patient record (EPR) will replace paper-based patient records from 2026 and will lead to better, safer, joined-up care at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and beyond.

At The QEH we provide a comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics and community-based services to around 331,000 people across west and north Norfolk, North Cambs and South Lincs.

We are an ambitious organisation that upholds our values of kindness, wellness and fairness. We strive for continuous quality improvement, recently demonstrated in our 2024 CQC maternity inspection rating our services as ‘Good’, and we are proud to be a place to learn and grow through recognised learning and apprenticeships.

We recognise and reward our 4,000 staff and volunteers, priding ourselves on a community atmosphere and positive team spirit.  We have approx. 530 beds across 33 wards and have newly built education and training facilities, a range of modern award-winning centres alongside a talented team of people ready to give you a warm welcome.  We love working here and think you will too.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about this role, responsibilities and duties, please refer to the job description and person specification.

Person specification

Qualifications/training & professional development

Essential criteria

• B.Sc. in Physiotherapy (3 year) or M.Sc. in Physiotherapy (2 year)
• HCPC Registration
• Specialist qualification/education or experience relevant to specialist area of practice
• Appropriate IRMER training for radiology requesting
• Working towards or willing to work towards a relevant Masters level qualification
• To have ongoing evidence of continued professional development within the specialist field
• Demonstration of a variety of up-to-date post-graduate education relevant to the specialty

Desirable criteria

• Post-graduate Foundation Management/Leadership training
• Advanced study in relevant area of practice
• Practice educator course and ability to supervise under-graduate physiotherapists

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience and reflective practice in physiotherapy at a senior level in the management of spinal and chronic pain conditions
• Wide experience of evidence-based management of a range of musculoskeletal problems with an emphasis on neurology and orthopaedics and the spinal pathway
• Able to demonstrate advanced decision making/clinical reasoning skills in MSK through the analysis and interpretation of the clinical examination and interpretation of investigations
• Experience teaching formal programmes or courses to patients and/or other staff
• Experience leading and presenting Audit/research
• To have experience of outcome measures, national guidelines and standards relevant to the speciality
• Demonstrates specialist differential diagnosis experience and assessment of bladder & bowel dysfunction in suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome

Desirable criteria

• Broad range of NHS experience
• Attendance of relevant SIGs

Skills, abilities & knowledge

Essential criteria

• Advanced clinical reasoning skills
• Advanced specialist skills to examine, assess, diagnose and identify optimal treatment/management plan in line with Orthopaedic/Neurosurgery Departments clinical guidelines for patients with complex conditions and presentations
• Advanced knowledge of human anatomy and physiology and In depth knowledge of speciality area of practice
• Advanced knowledge of diagnoses and interpretation of disorders relevant to the speciality
• Detailed and up to date knowledge of musculoskeletal pathologies in spinal conditions, including indications for surgery
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to handle difficult conversations. Ability to empathise, use tact and diplomacy when required
• IT skills using: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint etc
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Desirable criteria

• To have a very good understanding of the role and responsibilities of the post
• Experience of staff supervision and appraisal
• Evidence of audit and a positive approach to research

Applications are welcome from anyone who meets the criteria specified in the person specification regardless of age, gender, disability, race ,ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances. Only those applicants who demonstrate in the application form how they meet the criteria in the person specification will be shortlisted for interview. We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who possess and can demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our core values.